Can-opener.



No. 7|2,396. V Patented 06:1. 28, I902.

T. H. c. LOFTHOUSE.

c N OPENER.

(Application filed May 10, 1902 (No Model.)

Jmmnmmi WITNESS s.- (/VVENTOH a. ,Z'fiawaaJifiZo/fiowe 1 1/1 4, B)

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS HILTON Ol-IEESBROUGH LOFTHOUSE, OF NASSAU, BAHAMA ISLANDS."

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,396, dated October 28, 1902.

' Application filedMay 10,1902. Serial No. 106.792. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS HILTON-CHEES- BROUGH LOFTHOUSE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Nassau, in the.

Island of New Providence, Bahama Islands,

have made certain new and useful Improve ments in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in canopeners, having for an object to provide an opener of extreme simplicity, possessing the necessary strength and cutting qualities, and which can be used efticiently'in cutting the can; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed. i

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention as in use. Fig. 2 is a face view of the cutter portion of the opener from one side thereof and in the direction indicated by the full-line arrow in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the construction shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a face view in the direction'indicated by the dotted-line arrow in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is adetail cross-section on about line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

My can-opener, as shown, includes a handle A, to which is connected the shank B, the latter preferably having a tang to enter the handle A, the fulcrum-wing G, bent at a right angle from the lower end of the shank B, and the blade D, extending at a right angle from the outer end of the fu1crum-wing B, as shown. The shank B is preferably curved inwardly at b on its opposite edges, and'the fulcrumwing Q extends from the lower end of the shank B of an even width throughout its 1ength,with its edges 0 straight and unbroken between the juncture of the said wing O with the blade D and the wing B. This isimportant, as thereby I furnish a suitable fulcrumbearing at O in the operation of the opener,

either right or left hand, as it will be understood from what follows that the opposite edges of the blade are alike, so the opener can be used with eitherhand. The blade D rounds from its juncture with the wing O on its opposite edges at D to its point d, the point being produced at the extremity of the blade and facilitating the insertion of the opener into a canto the position shown in Fig. 1. The opposite edges swell outwardly at d between the ends of the edges D, producing convex cutting edges, which terminate at one end at d and at their other ends at their juncture with the square edges 0 of the fulcrum-wing 0. As shown in Fig. 5, the blade in transverse section-is convex on both faces, tapering on curved lines gradually from its middle toward its edges D, the blade being tapered longitudinally toward its point (1 in longitudinal section, as will be understood from Fig. 3. l

In operation the opener can be used on circular cans, such as shown in Fig. 1, or on square cans, as occasion may require, and it will be understood that in operation the blade may be forced through the top of the can to the position shown in Fig. 1 and then rocked and moved along the edge of the can until the same has been opened as desired.

In practice I prefer to make the handle A of lignum-vit-ze or other suitable hard heavy wood which will be durable and will by its weight aid in inserting the blade into the can.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The improved can opener herein described, having a shank, a fulcrum-wing bent at a right angle from the end of said shank and having its opposite edges square and unbroken from end to end and alike at both sides of the wing, and the blade extending at a right angle from the outer end of the fulcrumwing, said blade being curved equally and similarly on both edges and having said curved edges rounded outwardly between their ends, and terminating or merging at their lower ends in a point and terminating at their upper ends at the juncture of the blade with the wing, said blade being convex on both faces in cross-section and being tapered on both faces toward its point, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A can-opener having a double-edged blade, a shank, and a wing at a right angle to'and connecting the blade and shank, the opposite edges of the blade and of the fulcrum-wing being alike, whereby theidevice may be used similarly in either direction when applied to a can, substantially asset forth.

THOMAS HILTON CHEESBROUGH LOFTHOUSE.

Witnesses:

E. L. RAYMOND, JAMES SIMMONS. 

